Axminster loom tube frame



March is, 1943. s, s, ARRITY 2,314,139

AXHINSTER LOOM TUBE FRAME Filed April 7, 1939 2 Sheeiis-Sheet 1 INVENTOR k g;

' mkxg ATTORNEY March 16, 1943. s. s. GARRITY 2,314,139

AXMINSTER LOOM TUBE FRAME Filed April 7, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 any INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 1943 AXMINSTER LOOM TUBE FRAME Spencer S. Garrity, Amsterdam, N. Y., assignor to Bigelow-Sanford Carpet 00., Inc., Thompsonville, Conn., a corporation of Massachusetts Application April '1,

7 Claims.

\ This invention relates to Axminster looms and particularly to a variable length tube frame and spool adapted for use interchangeably in looms of different widths.

the usual brackets ill of conventional form for releasably mounting the tube frame in the carrier chain and have tongue members 20 received within the links of the chain and spring latches 22' to latch with the chain. The end sections l2 i939, Serial No. 266,561

and It also carry plates 24 which are drilled to form bearings for the pintles 26 extending from the heads 30 of the spool. The supporting brackets and spool bearings are of conventional The pile yarn in an Axminster loom is convenconstruction and therefore require no further tionally supplied by a series of tube frames each description. of which carries, on one or more spools, the pile The spool is also in three sections, 34,- 36 and tuft yarns for a single pile row extending across 38. Each of the sections 34 and 38 is permanentthe fabric. Each tube frame accordingly is of a ly secured at one end to its adjacent spool head length approximating the width of the fabric to 30 by suitable means which may be convenbe woven. Axminster fabrics of different widths tional.

. are woven on looms of conformingly different To secure the three spool sections 34. 36 and widths, each requiring a large number of tuft 38 together in abutting alignment with each yarn carrier tube frames of corresponding other I preferably employ internal sleeves 40 and length. 42 of the construction shown more in detail in The object'of the present invention is to pro- Fig. 4. ,These sleeves are made of spring steel of vide an Axminster tube frame, and spool therea suitable length to hold securely the spool secfor, which are variable in length and are theretions together, preferably with a sweat joint to by adapted for use in looms of different widths. be described, and they are split as shown at 44 By my invention I am able to effect a substanso as to be compressible to an external diameter tial reduction in the inventory of these parts reslightly less than the internal diameter of the quired by the Axminster manufacturer. spool sections so that they can readily be re- These and further objects and advantages of ceived therein. The metal of which the sleeves my invention will appear from a more detailed are made preferably has sufficient resiliency so description thereof, in connection with the acthat expansion of the sleeve within the spool 'companying drawings, in which: sections gives a tight friction fit.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of a complete The carrier bar sections l2, l4 and I6, as tube frame embodying my invention; shown in Fig. 4,.are similarly secured together by Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, but sleeves 50 and 52 which (Fig. 1) are received inwith the center sections of the tube frame and ternally of the bar sections. Conforming to the spool removed for the shorter length; rectangular cross section of the bar sections the Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 of Fig. sleeves 50 and 52 are of like rectangular cross 2, and section, although I prefer to shape their side Fig. 4 is a disassembled perspective view showwalls with a slight bulging convexity indicated ing the tube frame parts which are used in 110- in Fig. 4, to insure that when expanded within cordance with the preferred embodiment of my the bar'sections a tight fit results. Each sleeve invention. is split at 56 to allow for the compression of the Fig. 1 shows my tube frame as a Whole in exsleeves necessary for their reception within the tended length and is composed in the embodicarrier bar sections and these sleeves, like the merit illustrated of three sections designated a, sleeves 40 and 42 are made of spring steel so that b and c. The yarn guiding tubes or tins 2' for they expand within the interior walls of the bar the section a are mounted on a plate 4, for the sections. The holes 5! in the sleeves receive the section b are mounted on a plate 6, and for the screws l0 (Figs. 1 and 3) which pass through section 0 are mounted on a plate 8,-the tubes beholes 53 in the carrier bar sections and serve to ing secured to their respective plates by soldersecure the tube carrying plates l2, l4 and H5 in ing or in any conventional manner. Each of place. these plates is secured as by screws ID to the car- 1 To insure that the tube frame assembly as a rier bar sections l2, I4 and i6 respectively, of a whole is firmly secured together, whether in the construction hereinafter to be described in deextended form of Fig. l or contracted as shown tail. The end carrier bar sections l2 and 16 have in Fig. 2. it is desirable that the joints be securely locked not only against pulling apart, but also to withstand the strains incident ,to removing the tube frame from the chain, wiping it in to the fabric and returning it to the chain, where the tube frames are used in that type of m.

For that purpose I preferably sweat join the internal sleeves to their respective spool or bar sections by the use of solder which is applied to the sleeves and hardened prior to assembly and then softened and rehardened after the sections have been assembled.

In making the extended tube frame of Fig. 1 using the parts abov described and employing a sweat joint, the procedure is as follows: The sleeves Ill and 42 are first provided with a suitable coat of solder. For this purpose the external surfaces of the sleeves are preferably first cleaned with acid and then coated with molten lead and tin solder. The solder is allowed to harden. The internal surfaces of the sections 34 and 36 may then be cleaned with acid adjacent their abutting ends. The solder coated sleeve 40 is then compressed, as in a vise, to close the split 44, and, while it is held closed, sections 34 and 36 are hammered on to th sleeve from both ends. These spool sections are then closed against each other so that their ends abut each other and thereafter the tube is heated externally to melt the solder. Subsequent cooling produces a tight joint. This process i repeated to join the sections 36 and 38 and also to join together the tube carrying bar sections I2, 14 and I6, sweat joining them with the sleeves 50 and 52. In us it will be found that although the tube frame so assembled is as long as is required in the maximum width looms, its sectional joints are sufficiently secure to withstand severe loom usage. Fig. 1 is not drawn to true scale for a long tube frame but has been shortened to illustrate details more clearly. The spool is conventionally about an inch in external diameter. I have-found that the joining sleeves 40, 42, 50 and 52 may effectively be about 6 inches long, although of course that dimension may be varied. For broad width looms the tube frame will usually carry a number of spools aligned longitudinally and supported on the conventional intermediate brackets.

The long tube frame of Fig. 1 may be shortened to the length illustrated in Fig. 2 by separating the various sections, first applying heat to melt the solder and then pulling the sections apart. Thus, after removing the spool from the tube frame, heat may be applied around the spool barrel section 36 in the region indicated at a: in

Fig. l to melt the solder around that portion of sleeve 40 which is within the central spool section 36 and while the solder is melted, the spool sections are pulled apart. Similarly the spool is heated in the region indicated at y and sections 36 and 38 pulled apart. To separate the frame the screw l passing through the bar section I l and sleev 50 is first removed, after which heat is applied to melt the solder on that portion of sleeve 50 received in section H. Sections 12 and H are then pulled apart. The process is repeated to separate sections l4 and Hi. The sections a and c may then be united, in the manner indicated above, to form the short tube frame of Fig. 2, acid cleaning the interior of the spool and bar sections 38 and I6 and resoldering the projecting portion of sleeves 40 and 50 if necessary. The central spool barrel and tube bar sections b may be stored for future use in making extended tube frames.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that my novel tube frame, in whatever length, always presents a barrel of uniform external diameter throughout its entire length, which I prefer, Also, it will appear that the yarn tubes 2 are in a continuous uninterrupted series uniformly spaced along the bottom of the tube frame. Whereas other ways of, joining together the spool barrel sections and tube supporting bar sections may be employed, such as by telescoping one section within another if uniformity in external diameter is not required, or by the use of rivets, spot welding or the like, for one-half of each joint, and removable screws for the other half, yet for maximum security I prefer the type of joint above described. My invention is not, however, to be limited to such details except as indicated in the appended claims.

Users of Axminster looms may find it desirable to employ spools which are variable in length in accordance with my invention without constructing their entire frames as above described to adapt them to various width looms. Thus, while it is the vogue today to weave broadloom Axminster carpeting in multiples of three foot widths, using three foot spools, the Axminster manufacturer is occasionally called upon to supply odd sizes requiring the use, for example, of 27 inch spools. By my invention the major portion of his stock of spools may be in 36 inch lengths with a selected number of them made convertible into odd sizes for use as occasion requires. Thereby his spool inventorycan be greatly reduced.

Similarly he may use a variable length tube frame convertible to multiples of 36 inch lengths, for example, and use as many 36 inch spools aligned lengthwise, as are required. In that event the replaceable tube frame sections should be provided with suitable intermediate brackets for supporting the pintles of the spools. Such intermediate supporting brackets are common and need not, therefore, be described.

I claim:

1. A variable length yarn spool for use in Axminster looms consisting of a plurality of barrel sections arranged successively in endwise abutment with each other to form a continuous barrel, a spool head secured to each end of the barrel. a sleeve extending across each joint formed at the abutting ends of said barrel sections, and means removably securing the sleeves to the barrel sections to secure the sections together to form a long spool or selectively to permit removal of one or more sections to form a shortened spool.

2. A variable length yarn spool for use in Axminster looms consisting of a plurality of barrel sections arranged successively in endwise abutment with each other to form a continuous barrel of uniform external diameter, a spool head secured to each end of the barrel, a sleeve for each joint formed at the abutting ends of the sections, each of said sleeves being received within the barrel and extending over its respective joint, and solder bonding the sleeves to the barrel sections, whereby to secure the barrel sections together to form a long spool or selectively to permit removal of one or more sections, upon melting the solder, to form a shortened spool.

3. A variable length yarn spool for use in Axminster looms, having a pair of spool heads and a spool barrel interposed between the heads and secured thereto, the said barrel being composed of a plurality of successive sections, an intermediate one of which is removable from between sections at its opposite ends, a sleeve received within and crossing from one end of the intermediate section into the adjacent end section for securing said sections together and means for securing the opposite end of the intermediate section to the end section adjacent thereto to form an elongated spool, the said sleeve being also adapted to secure together said opposite end sections when placed in abutment with each other upon removal of the intermediate section to form a shortened spool.

4. A variable length yarn spool for use in Axminster looms, having a pair of spool heads and a spool barrel interposed between the heads and secured thereto, the said barrel being composed of a plurality of successive sections, an intermediate one of which is removable from between sections at its opposite ends, a separate sleeve received within and crossing from each end of the intermediate section into the adjacent end section, means securing each sleeve to the intermediate section and to the end section which receives the sleeve to hold the end and intermediate sections together to form an elongated spool, said means including separable soldering whereby the intermediate section can be removed and the end sections secured in abutment with each other to form a shortened spool.

5. A variable length yarn spool for use .in Axminster looms having a pair of spool heads connected solely by means permitting adjustment in spool length and including a spool barrel composed of a plurality of successive sections, an intermediate one of which is removable from between sections at its opposite ends so that a shortened spool may be formed by fastening together, upon such removal, said sections at its opposite ends, and separate fastening means attached to the opposite ends of said intermediate section and to said opposite end sections securing said intermediate section to said opposite end sections to form an elongated spool, at least one of said fastening means being also adapted to secure together said opposite end sections when placed in abutment with each other upon removal of the intermediate section to form a shortened spool.

6. A variable length yarn s-pool for use in Axminster looms having a pair of spool heads connected solely by means permitting adjustment in spool length and including a spool barrel of uniform external diameter composed of a plurality of successive sections, an intermediate one of which is. removable from between sections at its opposite ends, a fastener attached to the inside of one end of said intermediate section and to the end section adjacent thereto and a different fastener attached to the inside of the other end of said intermediate section and to the end section adjacent thereto, said fasteners securing the intermediate section in place between the end sections to form an elongated spool, at least one of said fasteners being also adapted to secure together said opposite end sections when placed in abutment with each other upon removal of the intermediate section to form a shortened spool.

7. A variable length yarn spool for use in Axminster looms, having a pair of spool heads and a spool barrel interposed between the heads and secured thereto, the said barrel being composed of a plurality of successive sections, an intermediate one of which is removable from between sections at its opposite ends, a sleeve received within and crossing from one end of the intermediate section into the end section adjacent thereto, the said sleeve being longitudinally split and made of spring metal to impart to the sleeve a resiliency permitting it to be contracted to a size less than the internal diameter of the barrel and urging it to expand to a size greater than said diameter for a tight fit against the inside of the barrel, and means securing said sleeve to the intermediate section and to said adjacent end section to hold said intermediate section and said adjacent end section together to form an elongated spool, said means including separable soldering whereby the intermediate section can be removed and the end sections placed in abutment with each other to form a shortened spool, the said sleeve being also adapted to secure together said opposite end sections when so placed in abutment with each other.

SPENCER S. GARRITY. 

